Rags? Yes please!

Over the past few years there has been talk of secret Santa’s and cutting back on Christmas presents in our house. As a result I decided last Christmas that I would make something special for my two sisters as it might be the last Christmas present I would be giving them. It was going to be sewn, that much I knew. I didn’t think I would manage a quilt, my machine struggles with quilting a cot sized quilt, it would never manage anything larger.

Then I discovered rag quilts (thank you Pinterest!) and I knew exactly what I would make. I bought a couple of layer cakes of Moda’s Mod Century, flannel for the centres and some dimple dot minky for the backs. I chose to ignore the advice that 10″ squares were not the best size to use for a lap quilt and fashioned two quilts from the selected fabric.

I worked up my fabric layouts on Electric Quilt as I have neither the floor space nor the peace (two little boys who like to help) and I have to say I was very pleased with the results. While I like the rag quilt seams I prefer bound edges so that I did with matching cotton. They were a huge hit. They have been used almost daily ever since, perfect for snggling under in the evening after work, for reading, for watching TV.

Given the success of my Christmas gifts I decided what better to gift my niece for her fourth birthday. This time I selected fabrics featuring pink and turquoise, her favourite colours. I opted for a few fabrics from Michael Miller’s Happy Hills range and teamed them up with some Tiny Ginghams and a few squares of Riley Blake’s White Contrary Circles.

As there was enough colour in the fabrics and backing, alternating squares of turquoise and fuschia dimple dot miky, so I went with a nice plain cream flannel for the centre of each sandwich. I cut the squares to 8″ square and decided on a 7×7 quilt.

I decided to finish I would embelish the centre square with her initial M and a crown in glitter iron-on. After all what little girl doesn’t love glitter or dream of being a princess!